Record-breaker Lydia Ko: U.S. college first, pro tour later

By Tom McGowan, CNN

Updated 12:06 PM ET, Mon August 27, 2012

Golf's young prodigies6 photos

History maker – Fifteen-year-old Lydia Ko is the youngest LPGA Tour winner in history courtesy of her win at the Canadian Women's Open. She was just 14 when she triumphed at the the New South Wales Open in January 2012, becoming the youngest player to win a professional tournament. She clinched the U.S. Amateur Championship two weeks ago.

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Golf's young prodigies6 photos

Golf's young prodigies – Guan Tian-Lang, 13, made history as the youngest player at a European Tour event when he teed off at his home China Open in April 2012.

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Making the cut – However, he could not better the achievement of Jason Hak, who was 14 when he became the youngest player to make the halfway cut at a European Tour event at the 2008 Hong Kong Open.

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The future star – Japan's Ryo Ishikawa is the youngest male player to win a professional tournament. He was 15 when he triumphed at the Munsingwear Open in 2007, and has since gone on to become a top-level tour competitor.

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Young gun – Before Ko, Lexi Thompson was the youngest player to win on the women's LPGA Tour. The American was 16 when she triumphed at the LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama in September 2011.

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Dubai double – Thompson is the youngest player to win on the European Ladies' Tour. Here she receives her trophy at the Dubai Ladies Masters on December 17, 2011.

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Story highlights

Lydia Ko became the youngest ever LPGA Tour winner on Sunday

The 15-year-old is the first amateur to win on the Tour since JoAnne Carter in 1969

New Zealander's non-professional status means she missed out on $300,000 prize money

South Korea-born Ko plans to remain amateur and attend college in the U.S.

Tiger Woods first won on the PGA Tour until he was 20, and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy was 19 when he managed a European Tour success.

Neither can rival the prodigious Lydia Ko, a New Zealand golfer on a record-breaking rise.

It has been a stellar year for the South Korea-born teen, with her record-breaking success coming two weeks after her triumph at the U.S. Amateur Championship and seven months after she became the youngest woman to win a pro tournament at the New South Wales Open.

"It feels amazing," she told New Zealand Golf's official website after Sunday's landmark win, capped off with a final five-under-par round of 67.

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"I broke the youngest record in January for the New South Wales Open and to break another record or being in the history books, it's amazing, and it's always awesome to be able to play with the pros.

"So I never knew I had it coming, and I was so happy to win the U.S. Amateur, to win this. I never think about it, I just wanted to make the cut.

"And when I saw that I was tied first after the second day, I was like, wow. I'm feeling really good. And yeah, kind of surprised to have two wins in such a short time."

The tournament at the Vancouver Golf Club came with a $300,000 check for the winner, but Ko will not see a cent of it.

While her amateur status may be detrimental to her bank balance, some seasoned observers are advising she stays among the amateur ranks for a little longer yet.

"In the end it was a pretty comfortable win for a player who is new to this level and competing with the top 48 out of 50 money winners on the LPGA Tour," said New Zealand golfing legend Bob Charles, who won the 1963 British Open.

"I understand that she has expressed interest in going to college here in the States at Stanford. She has obviously shown that she is good enough but I think she would benefit from a few more years as an amateur. I am pleased to hear that she wants to stay amateur for a few more years and that she intends to get an education behind her.

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"While she has endless possibilities with her golf game, you never know what is going to happen and I encourage any young player to keep up the study while they are playing golf to help with other options later in life."

Ko echoed the views of Charles, while stressing she was keen to not forget the amateur scene which has helped her become one of the world's most exciting young golfers.

The teenager is also helped by a wealthy benefactor. Octogenarian David Levene donated some of his $220 million fortune to Ko earlier this year, which meant she could retain her amateur status and continue with her education.

"I'll still remain an amateur and then finish high school and then go to college in the States," Ko said on the LGPA's official website. "I mean this is a great win, but I don't think this will affect me changing my roots to my career."

New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy hailed Ko's triumph as a landmark day in the history of the sport in the country.

2012 PGA Championship: The best photos 76 photos

2012 PGA Championship: The best photos76 photos

2012 PGA Championship: The best photos – Rory McIlroy kisses his prize after winning the 94th PGA Championship on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina on Sunday, August 12. See how the action unfolded here.

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2012 PGA Championship: The best photos – Carl Pettersson digs in during the final round.

2012 PGA Championship: The best photos – Kaymer hits a shot on the 11th hole.

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2012 PGA Championship: The best photos – The PGA Championship got off to a gorgeous start Thursday.

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EXPAND GALLERY

British Open 2012: The best photos 153 photos

British Open 2012: The best photos153 photos

British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els of South Africa celebrates with the Claret Jug after his victory during the final round of play at the British Open at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in England on Sunday, July 22. See all the action as it unfolds here.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els tosses his golf ball to the gallery after a birdie putt on the 18th green on Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th green Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott of Australia reacts to a missed par putt on the 18th green Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott reacts to a bogey on the 17th green Sunday.

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british open 19 – Adam Scott plays a bunker shot on the 15th hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott gestures on the 9th green during his final round on Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott looks at his putting line on a green Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th green Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th green Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott plays out of a bunker on Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els hits his second shot on the 15th hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els tees off on the 14th hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods of the United States tries to works his way out of a bunker on the sixth hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods stumbles and watches the path of his bunker shot on the sixth hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Overall leader Adam Scott of Australia hits his tee shot on the fifth hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Scott and caddie Steve Williams watch the action on the first hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els of South Africa, who began the day at -5, waves to spectators from the the on the first hole as he begins the final round Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot on the second hole as Scott looks on.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods, who had several bogies on the day, hits his approach shot on the second hole during the final round Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods tips his cap to the crowd on Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Overall leader Scott, left, waits with McDowell on the first tee during the final round of play.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – McDowell tees off on the first hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods acknowledges the crowd as he prepares to begin his final round of play Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Scott, who started the day at -11, tees off on the first hole of the final round Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Andres Romero of Argentina, right, and his guest caddie, soccer player Carlos Tevez of Manchester City, watch the action from the tee on the 12th hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays out of a bunker on the 10th hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – K.J. Choi of Korea plays a shot in front of the gallery.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Brandt Snedeker of the United States, who started the day in second place at -7, hits his tee shot on the first hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, who finished with a 279 at one under par, plays a shot from the rough on the 18th hole Sunday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott of Australia hits an approach shot on Saturday, July 21, at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in England during the third round of the British Open on Saturday. Scott finished with a four-shot lead going into the final round of golf's oldest major championship

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods hits his second shot on the 17th hole on Saturday. Woods finished the third round alone in fourth place, five shots behind Adam Scott.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Brandt Snedeker of the United States wears a ribbon in sympathy for the Aurora, Colorado, shootings during the third round of the British Open on Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland celebrates making a putt for birdie on Saturday. McDowell and Brandt Snedeker are tied for second, four shots behind leader Adam Scott.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods putts on the 18th green as Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark looks on Saturday. Woods is seeking his first major championship since the 2008 U.S. Open.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott of Australia reacts to his putt on the sixth hole on Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott celebrates making a putt for birdie on the eighth hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark putts on he 18th green. Olesen is in seventh place heading into the final round at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, which is hosting the Open Championship for the 11th time.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott of Australia walks to the 16th tee on Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Jason Dufner of the United States reacts to a missed putt on the 17th green. Dufner struggled to shoot 73 on Saturday and is 10 shots out of the lead.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 17th hole on Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Spectators watch Olesen extract himself from one of Royal Lytham & St. Annes' many bunkers on Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods makes some calculations before teeing off at No. 5.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els of South Africa hits an approach shot. Els, a three-time major champion, is tied for fifth place with American Zach Johnson, six shots out of the lead.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods follows through on his drive at the fifth.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods waits to play on the 18th green.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott tees off on the fifth hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods scrambles out of a greenside bunker after hitting the ball close on fifth hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Wind whips the flag on the first green at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Scott pulls a club as caddie Steve Williams looks on.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods recently eclipsed Jack Nicklaus in career wins and is currently No.1 on the PGA Tour money list.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Graeme McDowell tees off on the fifth hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ernie Els follows through on his swing at the first hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – McDowell squats to line up a putt on the second green.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Olesen blasts out of a bunker at the third hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – The crowd watches American golfer Bubba Watson, this year's Masters champion.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Snedeker reacts to a poor shot on the 11th hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Olesen hits a shot from a bunker on the seventh hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods celebrates a birdie at No. 6.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Scott rears back for a drive on No.5

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Snedeker hits his tee shot on the first hole Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Olesen watches his tee shot on the first hole as Woods prepares to play.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Spectators at the Open Championship enjoy Saturday's play in ideal golf weather.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Scott follows through on a tee shot.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Mark Calcavecchia of the United States laughs with wife (and caddie) Brenda in the third round.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Lee Westwood of England hits his approach to the 18th green.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Golfers must dress appropriately to play in the Open. Rules for fans are more relaxed.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – American John Daly swings at the fifth hole. Daly, who won the Open in 1995, struggled to a 77 Saturday and is in next-to-last place.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods follows through.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Bubba Watson tees off at No.5

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Fans of young American star Rickie Fowler fans pose in the bleachers at No. 18, dressed in their hero's customary bright, monochrome colors.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Sweden's Alexander Noren fires a fairway wood shot over the long grass at the 11th hole Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ireland's Padraig Harrington blasts from a bunker on the 18th hole Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Rory McIlroy sits as he waits to tee off on the 16th hole.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – India's Keev Milkha Singh tries to escape from deep rough.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa searches for a lost ball on the third hole. Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champion, was tied with several players in 10th place after Saturday's play.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Golfer Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand waves to the gallery after making a putt on Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Luke Donald of England talks with caddie John McLaren.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Els prepares to play on the first tee Saturday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Spectators follow the flight of Snedeker's ball after a shot from the rough during the second round of the British Open on Friday, July 20

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods celebrates after holing out from a bunker for birdie on the 18th hole, finishing Friday's second round with a three-under-par 67.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods takes practice swings at No. 15 under gray wisps of clouds during Friday's round.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – England's Ian Poulter walks off the 18th green during the second round on Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods intently watches his chip shot on the 14th hole during the second round.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Australia's Aaron Baddeley follows the flight of a shot during Friday's second round.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – A view of leaderboard during the second round on July 20.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Kevin Na plays a shot left-handed during the second round on July 20.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods of the United States tees off on the 11th hole Friday, July 20.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Zach Johnson of the United States watches his tee shot on the 14th hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ian Poulter of England reacts after missing a birdie putt on the 13th green Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Aaron Baddeley of Australia plays a bunker shot on the fourth hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Vijay Singh of Fiji plays out of the rough on the 13th hole on Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – TV towers loom over the course during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods of the United States reacts to a shot on the seventh hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Matt Kuchar of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 16th green during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – John Daly of the United States hits a shot from the rough on the 18th hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – A marshal gestures during the second round on Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Aerial view of the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th holes during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods of the United States hits his second shot on the second hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Brandt Snedeker of the United States tees off on the fifth hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Angel Cabrera of Argentina walks with his group off the fourth tee during the second round of the 141st Open Championship

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Zach Johnson of the United States watches his tee shot on the first hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott of Australia waits on the fifth hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Keegan Bradley of the United States hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Padraig Harrington of Ireland hits a shot during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Rory Mcllroy of Northern Ireland reacts to a missed putt on the 17th green during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Robert Allenby of Australia and his caddy, Darren May, walk alongside a pheasant on the sixth fairway during the second round of the 141st Open Championship on Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Luke Donald of England tees off on the fifth hole during the second round on Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Luke Donald of England hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round on Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – John Daly of the United States speaks with his caddy, Peter Van Der Riet, on the second fairway during Friday's second round.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Richard Sterne of South Africa hits from a greenside bunker on the 11th hole during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Rickie Fowler of the United States reacts after a putt on the 12th green during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Members of the grounds crew clear water on the course Friday during the second round.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Sergio Garcia of Spain and Tiger Woods of the United States look on at the first tee during the second round Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Harris English of the United States plays a shot from the rough on the sixth hole during the second round on Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Spectators enjoy the action during the second round on Friday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Tiger Woods makes a tough shot from the rough during the first round of the British Open on Thursday, July 19. Woods finished the Round 3 under par at 67.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Phil Mickelson of the United States hits his tee shot on the 11th hole on Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the ninth green on Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Jason Blue of Bristol gets medical attention after he was struck by Rory McIlroy's golf ball on the 15th hole on Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Jason Blue of Bristol poses with a golf glove given to him by Rory McIlroy after he was struck by his golf ball on Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his second shot on the 14th hole on Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Brandt Snedeker of the United States reacts to his putt on the 18th hole during the first round on Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium hits his tee shot on the first hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Charles Howell III of the United States plays a shot from the rough on the 14th hole during the first round Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Spectators watch the action as Sergio Garcia of Spain hits a tee shot during the first round Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Luke Donald of England hits his third shot on the seventh hole during the first round Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Phil Mickelson of the United States searches for his golf ball on the eighth hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Padraig Harrington of Ireland hits a shot from the rough on the sixth hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Jbe Kruger of South Africa makes some moves Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Scottish golfer Paul Lawrie plays a shot from the rough on the eighth hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – A fan keeps an eye on first-round action Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – With caddie Michael Waite at his side, Lee Westwood of England removes his jacket during the first round Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Bubba Watson of the United States hits a tee shot on the fifth hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Fans receive the signal to remain silent during the first round Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Junior spectators take in the action during the first round Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Rickie Fowler of the United States walks off the first tee Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – American Zach Johnson watches his iron shot from the second fairway Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – South African Ernie Els waves to the gallery on the 18th hole during the first round Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Woods reacts to missing a putt on the 13th green Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Amid a sea of spectators, Woods plays a shot to the green on the 14th hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Adam Scott of Australia plays out of the rough on the second hole Thursday under the watchful eyes of spectators.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Scott, who leads the tournament after the first round with a 64, reacts to a shot Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Scott looks at the lie of his ball in the deep rough on the 18th hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Golf fans don matching Union Jack suits for early action Thursday, the first day of the British Open.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – John Daly of the United States attempts a shot from well off the fairway on the second hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Watson tries to escape a bunker on the seventh hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Ryo Ishikawa of Japan tees off on the fifth hole Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Spectators lean in to follow a shot out of the rough from Garcia on Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Garcia, left, lines up a putt Thursday with the help of his caddie Gary Matthews on the second green.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Amateur golfer Alan Dunbar of Northern Ireland leaps up to get a better view on the second hole during the first round of play Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Bill Haas of the United States plays a shot from a bunker Thursday.

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British Open 2012: The best photos – Vijay Singh of Fiji reacts after playing a shot on the third hole Thursday.

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EXPAND GALLERY

"She has delivered one of the great days in New Zealand golf history," said Murphy. "Lydia has beaten a field of world-class professionals at the age of 15.

"It is not only a standout achievement in the history of New Zealand golf but also in the annals of New Zealand sport. Perhaps the most exciting thing with Lydia is, the best is yet to come."

The Auckland-based Ko, who has rocketed 140 places up the world rankings to 45th, will now turn her attention to the British Open -- which begins on September 13.

After finishing tied for 39th at July's U.S. Open, her first major, many will be expecting Ko to carry her current form into one of the sport's four marquee events.

Ko is being backed to succeed by one of her Kiwi forerunners, Marnie McGuire, who managed three third-place finishes -- one outright and two tied -- during her LPGA career.

"She will have more opportunities and obligations than she can possibly fulfill," said the 43-year-old, who turned pro in 1992 after graduating from Oklahoma State University and established herself in Japan before returning to the U.S.

"She needs to make sure she keeps the enjoyment in her game because that is one of the things that has made her successful.

"Yes she has missed out on the $300,000 but it is never about the money. She will be well supported for the rest of her life. It is never about the money though. It is about the achievement of winning and in Lydia's case creating history."